Voodoo - Charm City

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

It's a long bit of walking from Philadelphia to DC, but Voodoo and his people have a few advantages in that regard. One is that Ellen's provided them with a map of the route she took, including landmarks along the way. Another is that, while it's a good distance, it's nowhere near as long as the trip from Canada or New York to Philly. Perspective can be key.

The route on the map doesn't go anywhere near I-95 for most of its length, though. And there's a thickly drawn band around a not inconsiderable piece of territory- most of which is inside the curve of what used to be Interstate 695.

Comments

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"I believe we're good," says Russel. "Glad we had this talk. Joe, we're going."

"Fine by me," mutters Joe. "Place gives me the creeps anyway."

Russel briefly touches his brow in something not entirely unreminiscent of a salute, opens the door, and steps out into the night with Joe at his heels.

[boston_bruiser]

Voodoo returns the gesture and watches them leave, ascending the belltower once they're a safe distance from the front door. Their conversation resumes as they head off into the night, clarity fading with distance, and they eventually disappear behind an embankment.





Then - gunfire and shouts. It's too far away to make out specifics, but there's definitely an automatic weapon or two among them putting down rounds. Voodoo crouches down in the tower, but none of those rounds are coming his way.

Eventually, that too dies down. All is quiet once more.

The Morning After

[boston_bruiser]

The sun's just starting to peek over the horizon when Hector wakes them up. They're out on the road towards D.C. not long after that, in a standard patrol formation. The road isn't terribly preserved, if you consider what it's been through - but it's still not something you'd want to drive over.

He'd be lying if he said he wasn't itching to head in the direction of last night's firefight. But as they say, curiosity killed the cat - best not to stick his nose into it unless the opportunity presents itself.


-speaking of, there's a familiar figure just up the road.

"Omar? That you?"

Re: The Morning After

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

The leather coat's the same, but sometimes you just don't have time to change when you get out of bed in the morning. Omar's wearing satin pajama pants underneath it, by the look of things, and couldn't possibly care less.

"Mornin', brah," he says amiably. "You all right this mornin'? It gets noisy around here some nights."

[boston_bruiser]

Voodoo nods, playing along. "I'd say so. Don't know how you guys manage."

A beat, as he tucks his hands into his pockets.


"-smart of you, usin' us to lure Russell out of hiding."

He might not have a complete picture of what's been going down in this town, but sometimes all it takes to fill in the gaps is a little thinking.

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"Safest way to do it, all 'round," says Omar, unperturbed. "Long as you had the sense to stay in the church, the only people who were gonna get shot were the ones right in the line of fire."

Hey, when a man makes a leap of logic, you owe it to him to let him know he did in fact stick the landing.

[boston_bruiser]

"Wouldn't have done it any different myself."

Another nod.

"All in the game, huh?"

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

Omar smiles faintly, and drops a nod.

"All in the game. Still headed for DC?"

[boston_bruiser]

"D.C., then the Mojave. You stayin' here, I take it?"

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"Seems a shame to let what's left of the place go to waste. 'Sides, Grandma's not leavin' any time soon. This isn't a place you want to leave an old lady alone."

[boston_bruiser]

"I can dig it."

He offers his hand to shake.

"You take care, y'hear?"

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

Omar wipes his hand on his coat a moment before shaking Voodoo's.

"Will do. Good luck to you and your crew here. Can't say I know much about the game in the Mojave, but you're probably gonna need it."

[boston_bruiser]

"Don't doubt it."

And so they part ways, with the EZ and its outskirts growing smaller and smaller with each step until it, too, disappears over the horizon under the midday sun.